Losing a Child

No I didn't ... but my heart is going out to someone I don't know who has
In shul earlier today Maeva told me about a friend of Lee's who had been killed by a drunk driver
Then I saw Samantha's link on Facebook that she has become a fan of RIP Avi Schaefer (I joined the group also). Then I Goggled him (yes Barry has taught me well) and I found that this was not just someone's child that had been lost and that alone would have been enough to generate this kind of sadness, but he was more in a very short time Avi had made an impact that some of us can not in many lifetimes over Avi has touched many and touched them in a way that will keep his memory alive.

But I digressed (what else is new) from my original title Losing a Child no one wants to but we don't always get what we want....

Some of my friends have scolded me in past how can I send my children to Israel, not that we shouldn't have an affiliation with Israel but how can I send my children to somewhere that has so much terrorist activities? and then I think about Avi who was killed by a drunk driver right here in the USA.

So I will continue to keep thoughts of Avi in my heart and prayers and hope that my children will continue to go out and explore the world, follow their hearts and chase their passions because sometimes keeping a child close to home where you can continue to protect them doesn't neccessarily keep them safe and it will deny them the opportunity to live.

3 Long Months

I keep meaning to get back to blogging and then something stops me before I even sit down at the computer.... but right now I am in the car, in traffic following a Subaru with a parrot in the back seat...Bear is driving and we are off to the desert for the long weekend.
so here is my goal for this trip ...

2 entry's a day for the next 4 days ..... and yes this one counts as 1.
to get my draft posts finished

so here we are in out little hybrid off to the desert to see Leslie and Bill and Debbie and Brad and just a little married time. You know the Empty Nest will be here sooner than we think and we have to get ready.

So as always when I come back from a long absence a quick inventory:

Celia: has been home a year this weekend and she is very happy.
Nathan: is in San Diego riding his bike and I'm not sure what else
Samantha: is still up in Davis working with Masa and sharing her love of Israel with anyone she can
Morgan: is a Happy Little Golden Knight (University of Central Florida)
Ashleigh: is getting ready to graduate ( I know who would have thought this day would come) and...she will be off to Nativ 30....and then it will be just Barry, me and the dog.

So we have 85 miles to go and then I will look for some pictures.

Eshet Chayil aka Ruth Bubbles Moroknek

An accomplished woman, who can find?

Her value is far beyond pearlshusband's heart relies on her and he shall lack no fortune.

She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax, and works with her hands willingly.

She is like the merchant ships, she brings her bread from afar.

She arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household and a portion to her maidservants.

She plans for a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She girds her loins in strength, and makes her arms strong.

She knows that her merchandise is good. Her candle does not go out at night.

She sets her hands to the distaff, and holds the spindle in her hands.

She extends her hands to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.

She fears not for her household because of snow, because her whole household is warmly dressed.

She makes covers for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes a cloak and sells it, and she delivers aprons to the merchant.

Strength and honor are her clothing, she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the lesson of kindness is on her tongue.

She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise and praise her, her husband lauds her.

Many women have done worthily, but you surpass them all.

Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears God shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Women are amazing

Women have strengths that amaze men.....

They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in..

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

When sisters are together it always requires a celebration

And this time we had more to celebrate than just being together (although that would have be a good enough reason) Celia had just recently turned 25 ( I know can you believe that I have a 25 year old daughter) So after a little bit of discussion we decided on dinner at Pasta?

But the opportunity for the sisters to be together happened because of Family Weekend for Sigma AEPie and even though we tried to have all the Big Girls Club together but alas we only had half the group in person the other half in puppet.

I was a great weekend and a great reason to celebrate.

We are proud Sigma Parents

What a lovely weekend with Sam and her Sigma sisters. After a slight change in our schedule we started our drive a second time and made it to Davis just in time for Shabbos. I was a very nice dinner (that Sam cooked with the help of her Sigma sisters). We had dinner on Friday and then brunch on Saturday followed with a trip to the farmers market, shopping at the Davis MU (student union) and then a little down time where I built her shelf that we didn't get time to finish before I had to leave the last time I was here. Barry watched a little football and the girls had some time to be together. We had another brunch on Sunday morning and it was all over.

Sam I just want you to know that you planned a beautiful weekend and we had a great time. I am glad that The Bear and I got up here for a Family weekend and now we just have to get up her for picnic weekend.

327 miles to Davis...

You would have thought that by now I would have some cute pictures of what Barry and Ashleigh are having for breakfast since we got out of the house so early and after all we were ahead of schedule.





But you know one of my favorite lines..."man plans God laughs" well he might be laughing but we (Barry, Ashleigh, Celia and me) are not laughing. We left the valley ahead of schedule at 10:00 and everything was good... dropped Celia's car off for some work ...as we were driving past Der Wienerschnitzel we stopped got them some breakfast (not my choice) and we were on our way...but just before the tunnel on the 5 coming out of the valley something happened that changed our plans...we don't know what but something hit our windshield and well the pictures tell the rest of the story...so we went back home changed to Allegra and left the valley right on schedule by 12:00 noon.....so Sammie we are on our way just a little delayed.